Holland v Spain preview - Referee Howard Webb to show no fear
Howard Webb(credit:
Wikipedia)
Howard Webb insists he has the courage to make the big decisions in the World Cup final – even if it means emulating Jack Taylor and awarding a penalty in the first minute.
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Webb, supported by his assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey, will become the first English referee of a World Cup final since Taylor in 1974 and said it was the “ultimate honour” to be chosen for the Spain versus Holland encounter.
Taylor made World Cup history by awarding Holland a spot-kick just one minute into the game – the first-ever penalty in a final – and then awarded one to eventual victors West Germany 20 minutes later.
Webb, a 38-year-old former police sergeant, said all three Premier League officials would not flinch from making the kind of tough calls that Taylor did 36 years ago.
“Jack Taylor is something of a refereeing legend,” said Webb. “He’s someone I’ve got to know fairly well and he has been a big supporter for me especially earlier on in my career.
“We have spoken about his career and he tells some wonderful tales and of course he took a big decision in the first minute of the 1974 final.
“Part of our job is to take those big decisions, and to take those courageous decisions at any time of the match, and to take the right decision.
“I hope that once the final is over people will not be speaking about the match officials but if big decisions have to be made we will step up to the plate.”
Blue Square are offering 11/4 that Webb will issue a red card during normal time, while Spain are 11/2 to score a penalty and 14/1 to miss a spot-kick, with Holland 8/1 and 18/1 for those bets.